There is a “magical” children’s book that recently came out, called “Kathryn the Grape“. If you have never heard of it, let me have the pleasure of making the introduction! Kathryn is not just your ordinary girl- she is magical! She carries a magical wand with her everywhere she goes, and her fairy friend, Magggie, comes along, too. Kathryn knows that all she needs to do is wave her wand to make things go her way- but it only works for GOOD things (she was not able to turn her brothers into frogs, for example). She can rid herself of nervous bubbles at a new school, and banish monsters from beneath her bed. She also knows when someone needs her magic. When she sees a boy all by himself, she knows he is lonely and that he needs a friend.
This book is a great way to remind kids that they have the same “magic” inside them, they just need to believe in themselves and they will be able to accomplish thier goals and overcome thier fears (monsters or no!)
Kathryn is a loveable character and the story is sweet.

“Kathryn the Grape…a world where magic is our muse. A world where wonder and whimsy cultivate courage and creativity. A world where stories inspire children to connect with others, with nature, and with the universe. A world that teaches us to live a purposeful life. A magical life.

Kathryn the Grape is a series of children’s books series that depicts a young girl’s journey into awakening, into embracing her inner muse—her inner magic. We invite you to explore our website and discover a world of information about Kathryn the Grape and her closest companions: Maggie, Jennie Dog and Lacigam.

Join us on Facebook and Twitter to receive frequent updates on new books, products, and all the magic Kathryn the Grape has at her fingertips!?

And they give back too! Check this out!
$1.00 from every book sold on KathryntheGrape.com is donated to nonprofit agencies. Find [Read more…]

I was recently blessed to work with a really fun company, called The Wonder Forge. (How fun is that name, LOL)
The Wonder Forge has fabulous games, great for spending time together as a family. With winter having set in and making many outdoor activities an impossibility for the next few months, now is a great time to find some great games to play and keep the little ones entertained during those long, cold winter nights! (And a great gift idea, too!)

The Wonder Forge has a wonderfully wide selection of games, as well. I loved their variety- they had games that I had never seen before. They have a fantastic selection of games they call “I Can Do That!” games for Preschoolers– what a great idea! Nice way to break it down for parents. And you know I love it when kids can learn while being entertained! What’s better then that?

Little Man and Kamikaze had a blast with them! We were sent a few of these Award Winning Games- including “What’s In the Cat’s Hat?”, an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award Platinum winner.

The way it works (in short) is that you put a “secret” object into the Cat’s Hat, and the players take turns guessing what is inside by using their 5 senses (but not seeing the whole object) and by asking questions on the game cards. When there are no cards left, the person who put the object into the hat is the winner. If someone guesses before [Read more…]

I was recently sent an adorable Middle Grades (“Tween”) book to review, called “The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams“.
It was such a sweet, good read. Well written, with fun and conversational dialogue that makes for a pleasant and enjoyable read. Your child will really like it!
The book ranges on such familiar topics as family, siblings, school, fitting in, friends, and all sorts of situations that we can all relate to- even those of us who have never experienced preforming magic!
“The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams” is a great book for kids who love to read, but is “light” enough for those who struggle with reading to enjoy as well- and may encourage them to give reading another try. I am a firm believer in giving kids a wide range of books to choose from- those that love to read will find so many books appealing. Those that don’t, may need to try a few to find out why reading is wonderful Abbie Adams may just be able to cast her spell on your child- I know she enchanted me!

Here is a bit about the book–
“Abbie Adams is a regular eleven-year old girl with normal problems like a really strict-fifth grade teacher. (Meet Miss Linegar. Rhymes with vinegar.) She’s chronically behind in homework, forced to keep a big secret from her very best friend and hoping like heck she can remember all her lines in the drama club play. But Abbie also happens to be a witch and in addition to everything else, she has to cope with stuff like her little brother morphing into a werewolf and trying to eat his first-grade teacher…not to mention figuring out what exactly is up with her very, very peculiar cat.”

My opinion? Fun read, great book. If you have a tween, or an early reader and are working on chapter books with them, this is a good one to have. This is author Rhonda Hayter’s first [Read more…]

How adorable is this DVD!
And how great is it that you can always have episodes of Dinosaur Train handy? This is one of Little Man’s FAVORITE-FAVORITES, so you know it was a big hit with him. He wanted to bring it to bed with him the first night we had it, but I convinced him it could stay on his dresser, he didn’t really need to bring it into the bed. (That’s all I need is him to roll over and poke himself in the eye with a DVD case, LOL.)
I’m sure that you already saw my reviews of the episodes “Dinosaurs in the Snow” and “Big Stomping Dinosaur Feet;” and “Hornucopia,”, but let me just give you a little recap.

In “Big Stomping Dinosaur Feet;” “Hornucopia,” Daphne, a Daspletosaurus shows Buddy how to make stomping a fun dance instead of a temper tantrum. At the Big Pond, Tank introduces the Pteranodon family to his friend, Stacie Styracosaurus, a fellow Ceratopsian with a crown of elaborate horns on her head.

Encore presentations of “Dinosaurs in the Snow;” “Cretaceous Conifers” will broadcast on December 8, 12, 20, and 24 (check local listings). The episode is also one of eight fun and educational adventures available on the DINOSAURS IN THE SNOW DVD from PBS KIDS and Paramount Home Entertainment, in which Buddy travels to the North Pole, explores nocturnal animals, becomes a detective, celebrates his birthday and more! The DVD also features an interactive game, coloring pages, a dinosaur reference guide and parent information. SRP: $14.99.
In DINOSAUR TRAIN, young viewers join Buddy and his adoptive family of Pteranodons on whimsical adventures through prehistoric jungles, swamps, volcanoes and oceans as they unearth basic concepts in natural science, natural history and paleontology. The Dinosaur Train is a colorful locomotive, customized to accommodate all kinds of dinosaurs, and it has the ability to visit the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous worlds, while the Train’s Conductor, a knowledgeable Troodon, provides passengers with fascinating facts along the way.

DINOSAUR TRAIN is a Parents’ Choice Recommended TV series, and the DINOSAUR TRAIN website received a Parents’ Choice Silver Award and was the recipient of a prestigious 2010 Prix Jeunesse Award.
This DVD 8 total [Read more…]